Lance honors Hunterdon native who helped capture bomb suspect

Hunterdon County native and Port Authority police officer Sean Gallagher was among the four officers hailed as heroes for subduing a man after he set off a backpack pipe bomb in a passageway near the Port Authority bus terminal in New York City.

On Friday, Gallagher and his fellow officers received the Port Authority Police Benevolence Association’s Cop of the Year award. Earlier last week, U.S. Rep. Leonard Lance (R-7th) honored Gallagher in a speech in the House of Representatives.

“Many lives were saved that day as a result of the quick and decisive actions of officer Gallagher of Hunterdon County,” Lance said. “I cannot think of an officer more deserving than officer Sean Gallagher and I congratulate him for his heroism.”

Prosecutors say Akayed Ullah, 27, intentionally set off the pipe bomb in a long passageway connecting Seventh and Eighth Avenues near Times Square in December. A New York grand jury returned a six count indictment against Ullah on Jan. 10.

The other officers also named Cop of the Year are Officer John “Jack” Collins, who arrested Ullah at gunpoint, and officers Drew M. Preston and Anthony Manfredini, who responded to assist.

“It was a conscious decision for these officers to move in on him knowing what he was going to do, which makes them so deserving of this award,” Port Authority Police PBA Officer Bobby Egbert said. “These police officers performed not only an exceptionally courageous manner, but exactly how the police department expects them to perform.”

Gallagher has been working for the Port Authority Police for six years and is a former U.S. Marine. He graduated in 2009 from Delaware Valley Regional High School in Hunterdon County.

“Those who know Sean Gallagher personally were not surprised when they learned that he had played a decisive role in foiling the attack and apprehending the Port Authority Bomber,” Lance said. “In the aftermath of the attack, many of Officer Gallagher’s friends and acquaintances were asked what character traits Officer Gallagher possessed and a common theme emerged: a strong work ethic and a patriotic desire to protect his community and nation.”

Taylor Tiamoyo Harris may be reached at tharris@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @ladytiamoyo.